Is it possible to use my own stance?

by Izaac Campbell

I have never tried Kendo before but I really want to give it a go. But I have done a bit of research and all the styles and stances seem very rigid and not very fluent.

My fighting style in hand to hand combat however is a unique one I created to suit my skills. It originated from Bruce Lee's famous quote “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.”.

So basically I fight very fluently, and the thought of being stiff in certain parts of my body doesn't feel right. So my question is: Can I develop my own unique style in kendo?

Answer: Thank you for your post and sorry that I could not get back to you earlier.

The answer is No.

I completely understand what Bruce Lee says about the fluency like the water. Any “ways” including Chinese martial arts, they have forms. And after you train the forms thoroughly and humbly, you can be “shapeless, formless like water”.

Many people do not know how flexible kendō can be but we also have certain principles to follow. But to get to that level, you should practice for years. I think you know that if you have martial arts experience.

And we are not practicing to fight.

Kendō is derived from the techniques of the sword or kenjutsu. And it was a part of kenjutsu training. However, it has no killing techniques in it.

If you think you want to train kendō to fight, then kendō is not for you. We do not train hard to harm others.

This episode is an answer to a great question by a long-time member, Ming. his question was "Must I strike my opponent as soon as he (she) crosses my striking distance, even when he(she) has not yet m…

Alex Bennett sensei gave Indianapolis Kendo Club a seminar on shinai keiko and kata keiko. This is one of the methods he introduced us to improve our strikes. Hope this helps with your kendo study. Hi…